The petitioner, Chaudhry Tabir ul Haq, has approached the court under Article 199 of the Constitution, asking for an immediate crackdown on apps such as Betway, 1xBet, Bet365, and others.

He claims these apps are operating unchecked in Pakistan using Easypaisa, JazzCash, and SadaPay for disguised betting transactions.

The petition, filed through Barrister Imran Rashid and Advocate Waheed Ur Rehman Qureshi, names major federal institutions as respondents, including the Interior Ministry, PTA, FIA, SBP, and PEMRA.

It alleges that these platforms are not only violating Islamic laws and national regulations such as the Public Gambling Act (1867), PPC, and Anti-Money Laundering Act (2010), but are also enabling financial fraud and money laundering on a large scale.

The petitioner accuses the PTA of failing to block gambling apps under PECA 2016, while also blaming the SBP and FIA for not curbing illegal money flows.

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Citing constitutional provisions, the petitioner seeks a court order to:

·        Ban all gambling apps and websites.

·        Block gambling advertisements.

·        Direct SBP and digital wallets to stop gambling transactions.

·        Ask FIA to investigate facilitators.

·        Launch awareness campaigns.

The petition warns that unchecked gambling harms youth, families, and the economy, and could even harm Pakistan’s standing with FATF due to links with cross-border money laundering and crypto currency misuse.

This case could set a landmark precedent for Pakistan’s digital economy. While gambling apps are common worldwide, they raise serious religious, legal, and financial concerns in Pakistan.

A ban would show a strong stance against online betting, but its success depends on how effectively authorities block transactions.